REI volunteers collect trash after storm

In addition to native habitat restoration, the Newport Bay Conservancy undertakes many other stewardship activities including trail maintenance, interpretive kiosk installation and refurbishment, and trash removal. During winter you will see our volunteers out on Tern Island and New Tern Island removing vegetation and grooming the sandy surface ready for the endangered California least tern to nest.

The most important community involvement event is Annual Upper Newport Bay Cleanup Day which takes place each September is a shining example of partnership in action. Over 1,200 people venture out into the marsh from the land and the water to remove over 10,000 lbs. of trash in a well-coordinated effort. This year Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, September 17.

Between September and March when the bird breeding season starts we organize many mini cleanup events in partnership with various local organizations. See information on some of our fellow stewards. If you have a group that would like to perform a service activity, please contact Patrick McCaffrey at patrick.mccaffrey@newportbay.org.

Opportunities do exist for Eagle Scout projects from time to time at with either OC Parks (contact bill.reiter@ocparks.com) or Department of Fish and Game (contact rmadrid@dfg.ca.gov).